49ers 2026 draft recap: 8 rookies bolster the roster

For those who may have missed our initial coverage, here's a complete rundown of the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 class from the 2026 NFL Draft. The team came away with eight selections, spanning from the second through the fifth round.

The three-day event delivered a mix of potential immediate contributors and developmental depth. As is typical, some picks have been labeled reaches while others are viewed as steals. Realistically, only time will tell if either assessment is accurate.

This recap revisits each selection, offering a closer look at San Francisco's newest additions.

The 49ers entered the draft with six total picks, including No. 27 overall, but ultimately increased that number to eight through a series of trades.

WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi

• Round 2, Pick 1 (33 overall)
• This selection was the result of two trades. First, the 49ers sent picks No. 27 and No. 138 to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for picks No. 30 and No. 90. They then dealt pick No. 30 to the New York Jets for picks No. 33 and No. 179.

After recording 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns during his first two seasons at Washington State, De'Zhaun Stribling spent two years at Oklahoma State, where he overcame a 2023 hand injury to post a career-high 882 receiving yards in 2024. In his final season at Ole Miss in 2025, he recorded 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns, per Sports Reference, while helping the Rebels reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Further reading:
Our complete De'Zhaun Stribling rundown
5 things to know about De'Zhaun Stribling

EDGE Romello Height, Texas Tech

• Round 3, Pick 6 (70 overall)
• The 49ers received this pick from the Cleveland Browns as part of their trade down from the No. 58 overall pick.

Romello Height completed a six-year collegiate career with 111 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks while playing for Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, and Texas Tech, per Sports Reference. His most productive season came in 2025 as a Red Raider, where he started 14 games and recorded 10 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hurries.

Height earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. He was among the 49ers' top-30 visits to Santa Clara ahead of the draft.

Further reading:
Our complete Romello Height rundown
5 things to know about Romello Height

RB Kaelon Black, Indiana

• Round 3, Pick 26 (90 overall)
• The 49ers received this pick from the Dolphins as part of their initial trade down from the No. 27 overall selection.

Kaelon Black completed a six-year collegiate career at James Madison and Indiana, totaling 2,261 rushing yards, 473 receiving yards, and 22 total touchdowns, per Sports Reference.

After transferring to Indiana, he recorded a career-high 1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2025 season while helping the Hoosiers win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He finished his career with 51 games.

Further reading:
Our complete Kaelon Black rundown
5 things to know about Kaelon Black

DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma

• Round 4, Pick 7 (107 overall)
• The 49ers received this pick from the Browns as part of their trade down from the No. 58 overall pick.

Gracen Halton appeared in 47 games over four seasons at Oklahoma, recording 84 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and 8.5 sacks, per Sports Reference. During his 2025 senior season, he served as a team captain and earned second-team All-SEC honors after totaling 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks while helping the Sooners reach the College Football Playoff.

Halton participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, where he recorded a 4.82-second 40-yard dash and a 36.5-inch vertical jump.

Further reading:
Our complete Gracen Halton rundown
5 things to know about Gracen Halton

OT Carver Willis, Washington

• Round 4, Pick 27 (127 overall)

Carver Willis played 45 games across six collegiate seasons at Kansas State and Washington, primarily starting at right tackle for the Wildcats before moving to left tackle for the Huskies. During his final season in 2025, he started 10 games and earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors, allowing only two sacks and committing four penalties.

Following his career, he participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, where he recorded a 5.11-second 40-yard dash.

Further reading:
Our complete Carver Willis rundown
5 things to know about Carver Willis

CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington

• Round 4, Pick 39 (139 overall)

Ephesians Prysock split four collegiate seasons between Arizona and Washington, totaling 170 tackles, 20 passes defensed, and two interceptions across 49 games (42 starts), per Sports Reference. During his senior season at Washington in 2025, he earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles and seven passes defensed, while helping the Huskies reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Following his final season, Prysock participated in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where he recorded a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and a 39-inch vertical jump.

Further reading:
Our complete Ephesians Prysock rundown
5 things to know about Ephesians Prysock

LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana

• Round 5, Pick 14 (154 overall)
• The 49ers received this pick as part of a trade with the Baltimore Ravens, who traded up to San Francisco's No. 133 selection. Baltimore also included a 2027 sixth-round pick in the deal.

Jaden Dugger split his four-year collegiate career between Georgetown and Louisiana, totaling 222 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. During a breakout 2025 season at Louisiana, he earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors after leading the team with 125 tackles and recording an interception.

Following his senior year, Dugger accepted an invitation to participate in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.

Further reading:
Our complete Jaden Dugger rundown
5 things to know about Jaden Dugger

OT Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas

• Round 5, Pick 39 (179 overall)
• The 49ers received this pick from the Jets as part of their second first-round trade.

Enrique Cruz Jr. spent his collegiate career playing for Syracuse and Kansas, starting 30 games at both right and left tackle. During his 2025 senior season at Kansas, he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after starting all 12 games at right tackle and allowing only two sacks.

Following his final season, he participated in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where he recorded a 4.94-second 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical jump.

Further reading:
Our complete Enrique Cruz Jr. rundown
5 things to know about Enrique Cruz Jr.